Category Archives: Interviews

Toronto garage-rockers The Discarded have released their new single Could That Be You. The breakneck slice of ferocious rock n’ roll is out now.

Making music, especially loud punky garage music, feels good. Jared Dean and brother Caden Jax drummer figured that out quick. The boys needed something positive to grab on to beyond online gaming, so they grabbed their rocker dad and formed a band. J.P Wasson is best known as the drummer for popular Toronto bands Fifth Column and The Snowdogs, but Caden wanted to drum – so in The Discarded, Dad sings and plays guitar. Jared, Caden and Joel spent their first seven months in their new house learning how live (alone) together, and how to be a band. They learned quickly and, being two thirds impetuous teenagers, recorded their nine song self- titled album in August 2016 at Pro Gold Studios, helmed by the legendary Sir Ian Blurton. The Discarded recorded the whole nine songs in nine and half hours and could have done it quicker if they hadn’t stopped to eat or broken a string. That’s rock n’ roll and nothing feels better. Check out Could That Be You below!

How has the release of Could That Be You been so far?

JP- We’ve had some very positive feedback here in Canada on this single and the album. We looking to expand that to outside of just here. If your into this type of music then people are really into it. If your into banjos, and acoustic guitars- not as much- ha!

Tell us a bit about the single?

JP- This song was the first song that came together with all three of us and as a band. Until that point, (when the record was made we had been a band for seven months), it was me bringing songs to them and saying ‘hey let’s do this song- it goes like this’. With this one we were listening to a rehearsal we had recorded and I had this fragment of this song on another audio file. So we listened to it and said lets finish this one off. Caden developed a drum part and an intro and break. Jared came up with a bass line that was an advancement for him at the time. It came together quickly and we were excited that we were working together as a unit. Lyrically, it reflects on what was going on at the time. I had separated and divorced from their mother a few months before and this song was more about looking forward. About what you might want in a new relationship and if that person was indeed like that.

If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be?

JP: Paul Weller, Elvis Costello, they written a bunch so it would be interesting to see their process or to collaborate with them. There is a lot of people I know who I admire that I would like to write with. I would say a local band who are peers with would be a more relaxed situation and might lend itself to an easier collaboration, I like Ron Hawkins songwriting. I would like to write with women artist- Nora Jones, Neko Case to get the non male perspective on it all. Or go really big, Keith Richards, Townsend, McCartney, Springsteen to see how the mega stars do it who’ve had a ton of hits- ha!

Jared: I would love to work with Locomotive 8, they’re a Toronto band whose style I’m a big fan of and would like to try out.

Caden: I would like to work with Slipnot because of their double bass drum work.

How is it working as a family?

JP: Obviously there is a great love for each other because we’ve all know each other since they came into existence. But with a great familiarity there can also be tension or an ease of being a prick to one another. As the Dad I relate more to them as musical peers in the band so that is a nice dynamic to be developing and sharing. But currently we all live together so there is always, who left their damn dishes in the sink again. Or am I the only one cleaning up around here! Caden was always closer to his younger brother than Jared so it’s nice to see them bond and be closer to one another by being in a band together. There are times when one of us is cranky or irritable but that would be the same as in any band. It’s understanding when to give that person space or being big enough to say sorry I was cranky – I over reacted. This has been a wonderful experience for all of us. Making music together in a band is a great feeling. It is a wonderful way to create, share and cathartic way to expend some energy in a positive way.

Jared: Working with family is pretty easy going and fun. It’s not hard to get together for practice.

Caden: Easy, Only Jared and Dad bitch at each other, I just play.

JP and Jared: Unless we’re both telling you to shut up!

JP: Like I said- a great love.

What’s the rock scene like in Canada?

JP: I’m not sure about the rock scene, music scene, punk scene, rap scene, alternative scene, indie scene, roots scene, Americana scene, mainstream pop music scene. Toronto scene, East coast scene, west coast scene, Canada is a big place and as you can see by the first sentence a bit diffused. The community of musicians I have always found to be friendly and supportive. There are some fantastic acts that come out of Canada. We are next to the States so many people internationally think that the act is American. A lot of Canadian band don’t brand themselves as “Canadian” like there might be like a British invasion. A band level is different than at an industry level. Large labels want something that has a fan base and is moving units-streams- etc. Whether that is rock and roll I would say – no – punk and electric guitar based music is not “trendy” at the moment. But the industry tends to follow a trend more then establish it. There has always been a group of people who enjoy music with a rock edge to it or heavier sounding. Currently there are a lot of sound-like- everyone-else- type bands on the radio.

Jared: In my opinion the rock scene in Canada is mostly underground but still thriving. And honestly that just makes it more interesting.

It really quite thrilling for us at this point (meaning we are not jaded and tired of adulation-ha!). Any review, play, when someone comes up to us at after a show and buys a record. We quite like what we are doing and think we are a good tight rocking band- that writes good original music, so when someone acknowledges that it validates that a bit. I guess if that didn’t matter then just write the songs and record them and keep them to yourself. But if you put a single out or a record, really you are say- “Hey! Look at us! We think we’re pretty awesome- you should too!” We are doing this to generate a fan base, so we can make music, make recording, play and tour. Really if you think about it if a 1000 people supported a band they like with $100 a year they could make a living doing it. 2000 or 3000 people and at $50, well you get the picture. This is how it starts and builds. How that money gets to the artist is what is changing. Really, from the late sixties to the late nineties was the only window where bands made a lot of money from selling records etc. With the exception of a few acts that break into that larger stratosphere, it’s the way it works now. There is still a lot of hype machines but is the artist making money from the hype? I think I digressed from your question…!

Jared: It means a lot to see people find enjoyment in something I’ve created. Very few things compare to it.

Caden: I don’t know who listens to our music. I’m not actually there when they do. I’ve signed a few albums after shows. That was cool.

Will there be a tour this year?

J.P. – We are really enjoying playing live- we did our record release and a number of shows early in the year (February /March) and have played in the Toronto area. Starting in June we are touring Southern Ontario Canada. 10 shows. This is the area of Canada that has larger populations (clubs) within reasonable distances. Cross Canada some of the shows would be 10 to 15 hours away. One has to remember that England would fit inside of Ontario geographically. It would be fantastic to play there. Closer places to tour, greater population, places to play. The states is good as well but, as you may have read, the border is a bit funny lately! We are going into the studio in August after the summer tour to record a follow up of the latest record. We will look to have that out by next July. Then hopefully we could expand where we could tour that one. Again the great part of being a family is we can go anywhere and do a week or two of shows if it was arranged. Fly there, rent instruments. Jared and I went to Europe together last November and thought we could do this as a tour instead of a holiday. We loved it over there. Jared: Southern Ontario this summer. We’d like to tour the rest of Canada eventually- I’d like to see out west

Caden: I guess you’d call it a tour. I call it a lot of gigs where I’ve get to sit in a closet sized dressing room because I’m underage and can’t walk around the club. I’d like to go out east.

JP: Okay, so out east and out west. You do realize I’m the only driver in the band.

Caden: I’m 14 dad.

JP: Excuses! But you’d go to Europe right?

Jared/Caden: YEAH!

Caden: You heard it here England-Book us now- I’d like to see the closet like dressing rooms

Brighton based boys, This Party formed after a chance encounter at a Smiths tribute gig and now together create guitar fuelled indie-pop on their own independent label,Moscow Let’s Go.

Consisting of Hal Cleverdon on guitar, Marcus Gilham on bass, Tom Hodgson on drums and Matt MacNeill on vocals, This Party have now released their new single Lover. This lead track will get you singing along to the catchy chorus and in the mood for summer!

Their latest singles grabbed the attention of Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music and BBC Introducing and Money was championed online including an exclusive premiere with Gigslutz. Check out the title song of the EP below!

We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about the EP and more!

So how has the release of Lover gone down so far?

Lover is getting a great reaction so far. It’s getting sung back at us at live shows which is usually a good sign. The full EP will be released on 15th May and we can’t wait for everybody to hear it in its entirety.So this is the title track off your upcoming EP, can you tell us anything about this release?
Produced by Margo Broom, it is our first EP to be released. It was originally just meant to be a single as a follow up to our last single ‘Money’ but the studio sessions were really productive and so we expanded it to 4 tracks.

What is your favourite track from the EP?
I think it differs for each of us. Each of the songs has a different subject so I guess it’s depending on whatever mood we’re in. Friendship, bereavement, shyness and prescription meds are all themes present on the record.

You will be releasing this at Brighton’s Prince Albert on Tuesday, how pumped are you for this?
Very. We love playing across the UK but it felt right to launch the record in our hometown at one of the most famous local venues around. The atmosphere will be amazing and we can’t wait.

What’s the rock scene like in Brighton?
Great but competitive. There are a lot of bands here and the standard is generally pretty decent so you have to be willing to give a lot more in order to stand out.

What is it like being support by the likes of BBC Introducing and 6 Music?
We’re all regular listeners of both BBC Introducing and 6 Music so there’s a special feeling when you hear your own music being played in them. So far the BBC have given us amazing support and its so great to have them involved.

If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
Probably, and I’m just talking for myself here, Stevie Wonder. The man is a legend and his voice is still incredible. I reckon you could walk into the studio with him and the songs would just write themselves.

What was your funniest moment when recording the EP?
Putting enough auto-tune on all four tracks to make them sound like a T-Pain record, then sending them to our bassist and enthusiastically pretending they’re the final cut – just to see his reaction.

On June 3rd 2017 London’s Camden Town will turn into a one day music festival catering to Rock, Metal, Punk, Indie and pretty much everything and anything in-between – By Guy Shankland. It’s a genre friendly festival in the beating heart of the capitals music scene. This years CAMDEN ROCKS line up includes The Damned, The Coral, Feeder, The Rifles, Carl Barat, Orange Goblin, Zodiac Mindwarp and The Ruts DC. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY bands performing in Twenty Five venues on one day for just £39.50 (+ fees), sounds like a gig goers bargain. ORIGINALROCK.NET catches up with Festival organiser Chris McCormack and former 3 Colours Red guitarist, for a chat on all things Camden Rocks and his involvement with the recently reformed (post Sex Pistols band) The Professionals.

Chris McCormick (left) with The Professionals

Original Rock. How did 3 Colours Red guitarist Chris McCormack end up running Camden Rocks and The Jubilee Club?

Chris McCormack. I had the idea of starting a club night with Carl Barat (The Libertines) so we starting looking at possible venues that would work. Luckily The Barfly became available and because it has a live room upstairs I thought it’d be a good idea to bands on and incorporate that into the club night. The band side of it became a huge part of it and for me it was the main focus. It was booking Jubilee Club that spurred the idea of making it a bigger thing and putting an event on that would act as a showcase for all these great bands that I was stumbling across.

OR. 2017’s Camden Rocks sees a whopping 250 (!) bands performing on one day, how many venues are you using this year? And how do you sort out the running order?

CM. We have 25 venues this year and I use my instinct. You can’t please everyone but I try to avoid clashes with the obvious bands and genres. It’s a minefield.

OR. This years headliners include The Damned, Feeder, The Coral, and The Rifles, along with Zodiac Mindwarp (yey!) and Libertines front man Carl Barat. How far in advance do you book the line up?

CM. I start nine months before the event. I need three months to recover from the previous event! It totally swallows me up, so next year I need to delegate more, so it doesn’t take over my life as much.

OR. Camden Rocks is far turning into THE festival. With so many bands and so many venues do you forsee it ever having to move to a full weekend?

CM. Maybe next year! I always contemplate it, then stick to the one day.

OR. For those who have never attended Camden Rocks how would you describe it?

CM. It’s a great day out, fantastic atmosphere and a good way to catch all the great new bands that are breaking through on top of your old favourite established bands. And get extremely pissed in the process!

OR. You have managed to keep the festival ticket price down to just £39.50 (+ fees), which is fantastic value. With so many festivals/bands charging extortionate amounts how do you keep the cost so reasonable?

CM. We don’t make any money!! With so many new emerging artists I feel it’s important to keep the balance and the ticket price low…Not sure how long we can keep it at that price, but it’s important to me that it’s good value for money.

OR. Which bands are most looking forward to seeing this year?

CM. I’ve seen most of the bands play many times throughout the year, that’s why they’re playing Camden Rocks so for me this is more about everyone else. I just want everyone to enjoy all the hard work we’ve put in leading up to the event. Of course I’m going to see a few favourites like M O S E S, Hands Off Gretal and The Damned but I just want it to run smoothly by that point.

OR. Rumour has it we may see you back on stage with former Sex Pistol Paul Cook’s The Professionals, any truth there?

CM. I am yeah, I rehearsed with them last week and loved it, it felt very natural playing again. The Sex Pistols are my all time favourite band and the reason I got into music full stop, so playing ina band with Paul Cook is a huge buzz. Also Tom Spencer (ex Yo-Yo and the man filling Steve Jones’s shoes)is in the band to which was a huge reason for me getting involved. He gets me into trouble and I like that! Hahaha

OR. Camden is becoming the London equivalent to L.A’s Sunset Strip, with the capital losing so many independent live venues for development , how has Camden avoided the capitalist cull?

CM. I think having so many venues bunched together actually feeds it and makes it a great destination to hang out. There’s always going to be a few places closing down but the a new one pops up which keeps the scene growing and thriving.

OR. Finally will we ever see a 3 Colours Red reformation?

CM. Not a bloody chance. Being in a band should be fun and done with people that you actually enjoy being around. That’s why I’ve joined The Professionals…3 Colours Red was everything but fun.

CAMDEN ROCK takes place on June 3rd. For general information including Stage times, venues and ticket links check the festival website. www.camdenrocksfestival.com

Tickets are just £39.50 (+ fees) and are also available from the usual ticket outlets.See you in June!

WEIRDS recently released their dystopian new video for PHANTOM, which documents the slow burning of the stunning artwork for debut album SWARMCULTURE, due 26th May on Alcopop! Records.

WEIRDS saw a flurry of interest recently after their Facebook page was bizarrely hacked and transformed to a viral videos page. After each member received a notification that they had been removed as admins from the band page, they reached out to Facebook to begin the long winded process of restoring the page. When it was eventually resurrected, their online following had exploded from around 3K Likes to over 100K Likes. However this was short-lived, as the page was hacked a second time last week and WEIRDS have been unable to regain control since, forcing them to create a new page entirely. You can check out Phantom below!

We caught up with Weirds vocalist Aidan Razzall as talked about the latest single, upcoming album and more!

So you’ve just released the video for Phantom, how has the initial response been so far?

It’s been really cool- we had a lot of fun making the video so to see that people are into it has been humbling. It’s also quite ironic that after our Facebook hacking stuff, the latest thing we put out is a giant effigy of our album cover being burned to the ground. We filmed it before any of that happened, so maybe we foreshadowed it.

The track off your debut album SWARMCULTURE, how pumped are you for the release off this?

We’re really excited to release the album. We’ve been itching to get it out for a while, so for people to finally be able to hear what we’ve worked on should be fun. I think people might be surprised by some of the softer, more ambient songs on the record too.

What is your favourite track from the album?

My favourite tracks are either ‘Things that Crawl’ or ‘Past Life’, the opening and ending tracks. We wrote them specifically to open and close the record, and they’re fun to play live.

If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?

I would love to see how The Black Angels record their albums, as sonically their records always sound rooted in well honed studio techniques. I love all their records, they’re a really prolific band.

So how pumped are you for your tour in June?

We can’t wait! We love touring, getting to see new places and venues, and seeing how different crowds react in different areas. It’s going to be great to play some of the new tracks from ‘Swarmculture’ too.

So you’ve got 2000 Trees and Truck Fest coming up, do you find it different playing at festivals rather than live venues?

From a technical point of view its different, you don’t get a long soundcheck and there isn’t the sweaty, intimate nature of club shows, but that’s not to say we don’t enjoy them. We love playing at festivals, hanging out with other artists and being able to see loads of your favourite bands all in one day. 2000 Trees and Truck Festival have always been ones that we’ve wanted to play at so it’s a real honour for us to be there this year.

How helpful have the guys at Alcopop! Records been?
They’ve been great! We share a similar ethos on the way we do things, it’s one of the reasons we signed to them in the first place.

What has been your funniest moment while recording the album?
We liked to incessantly question Matt Peel, the producer, about completely ridiculous hypothetical situations involving certain scenarios in his studio, pretty much throughout the whole process.

What’s the alternative/rock scene like in Leeds?
The Leeds music scene is really varied genre-wise. I dont think you can really pin down a specific overarching sound. There’s a huge variety of artists. One of the reasons for that is the cultivation of the scene by venues like the Brudenell, Wharf Chambers and CHUNK. It’s great to know that every night of the week, there will be different Leeds bands playing all over the city, from noise rock to jazz to punk.

What was your first ever gig you attended?

I think it might have been Slow Club and The Heebie Jeebies at a venue called The Box in Crewe, when I was about 14.

Fronted by swivel-eyed polymath Paul Catten, they are simply one of the gnarliest and most distinctive bands to emerge from the UK underground over the last 20 years. Barrabus first appeared as a brief but thrilling flash in life’s shitty pan a decade ago, popping up as main support to My Ruin, SiKth and several more notables, but then promptly disappeared in a puff of noxious disdain. Gloriously, the best ideas absolutely refuse to. Barrabus, are set to release their self titled album on 9th June via Undergroove Records and you can check out the band’s new single Porn below!

We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about the upcoming album and more!

So how pumped are you for your new self titled album?

Very much! Its been a while since we’ve done any band albums, and as this was one we could have done a decade ago so it is quite exciting to finally get these songs out, updated and sounding super fresh. The CD looks great, and sounds killer. The big deal for me is that we did it ourselves, mainly here in my studio. Pumped and proud pretty much sums it up

How has the release of Porn been so far?

Feedback so far has been great, and its a nice introduction to what else lies on the album. It was difficult to pick a track to be fair, but this contains all aspects of the Barrabus vibe, intense, dark and a whole bunch of seedy characters in one song. Plus its a good title….unless you’re searching for it on a filtered computer of course.

Can you tell us anything about the release?

Out June 9th on Undergroove Recs. 9 tracks on the CD/digipak and 10 on the digital download version. The extra track is a cover of Adam and the Ants ‘Zerox’ which we recorded as we are all big fans of the Ant. Many different flavours on this beast, and I’m sure its one of the most satisfying records Mark and I have been involved with in 20 years. Its self-produced and maybe even sounds that way, we weren’t looking for crystal clear production, just our sound…we got there in the end I think. It was never a plan to do an album, but the old drummer (who appears on the recording) found some mp3s of a rehearsal so him and Keen suggested recording some stuff. Admittedly I was sceptical as my love for band douchbaggery had waned, and I had found my place in avant-gardism. However, after hearing the initial recordings, it felt like time to get into the idea and we just got on with it. No rush, no stress…just smashing it little by little. We didn’t even have any plans to put it out properly, maybe chuck it out for free but Darren at UG heard it and was on the phone immediately. I only really deal with 2 labels, them and Future Noise, so was extremely happy to go with them again. We’ve had a couple of false starts but now its done, lets get this out there!

What has been your funniest moment while recording the album?

If petty bitching and falling out over guitar tones, bass sounds, cymbals, vocals, mixing, recording, who’s the biggest asshole etc sounds like good fun then pretty much all of that! Not sure about the other guys but although satisfying, there was not much for me to laugh about as it meant countless hours sat in front of computer screen putting this together. I guess the suffering of my neighbours below while I laid down the vocals would always make me laugh. “I wish I was a woman!” being screamed from above would guarantee raised eyebrows I’m sure.

If you can work with any band, who would it be and why?

I can’t even get on with these guys and I’ve known them for years, so working with anyone else is a recipe for disaster haha. In all seriousness, nobody at the minute, Barrabus are the ideal band for me. No dramas now, always a good crack and we are sounding great. Good question tho, I’m tempted to go back to day one and join or start a h/c band…finish where I started. Always fancied the Dead Kennedys job after Jello left, reckon I could smash that position.

So how much does it mean to you when your fans listen to your music?

A great deal. I’ve been in this game a long time, and it still amazes me that some people still give a shit, and I am deeply grateful for that. I’ve never been an arrogant prick like a lot of frontmen, and you can usually find me at the merch stall or wherever thanking people for their support. You write to me, I’ll write you straight back. That’s the least we can do I think. I’m no rockstar, never have been. I’m happy making a racket, jumping around and shouting a lot and if people appreciate that, then I appreciate them. It will be interesting to see what fans Barrabus attracts…guys and girls in suits I hope.

What do you get up to in your spare time?

Make music in the studio, I always have a project on the go. Most appear somewhere, even if its just on my bandcamp page. There’s a couple of things out this year….to be revealed soon enough. The studio is my instrument these days, and I’m never happier than when I’m there working. I enjoy a good football match still, but I live a pretty chilled out existence these days. I crammed a lot of living into a short space of time, just feeling like a human being these days rather than a performing seal is good enough. Spare time is getting less as the release of this record draws nearer however!

Will there be a tour at all this year?

A 15 date headline tour isn’t viable for us at the moment, but if a good support slot comes out you never know. We will be out and about over the summer and beyond, so there will be plenty of opportunity to come see us. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves but if the need is there then of course we will seize the moment, we’d be silly not too.

Hassle Records are extremely excited to announce signingDutch grunge trio PACESHIFTERS, whose new album Waiting to Derail will be released later this year.

The band are streaming brand new album track ‘Stranger’, which is also available as a free download via SoundCloud, and have announced a show at The Black Heart in Camden, London on the 27th June.

Guitarist/vocalist Seb Dokman says of the single:

‘Stranger is a song about my ex-girlfriend. I was struggling with that situation for quite a while.

‘After I sang the first take Chris came up to me and we talked for a while, that really helped, because all the emotions that I felt while writing the song came back to me.

Listening back to how I did the first take and the second was a huge difference. Needless to say that second take was way better.

‘Recording an album or song is all about creating the right atmosphere to offer the best take you can.’

Inspired by the grunge movement decades ago that shook the foundations of alternative music, PACESHIFTERS bring an innovative twist on the genre whilst also boasting the complete unadulterated attitude that it was renowned for.

Possessing a no-nonsense mentality since their inception, PACESHIFTERS have evolved into a very devoutly passionate new grunge-rock band with a sound that is sure to enthrall any listener who enjoys the heavier side of Nirvana with doses of powerful Incubus-esque melodies and riffs along with the grit and energy of Chevelle. However, drawing comparisons doesn’t do PACESHIFTERS justice, where the band exhibit their gifted uniqueness in spades throughout new album Waiting To Derail, due for release this autumn via Hassle – their first on the label and first dedicated release outside of their native Netherlands.

PACESHIFTERS are notorious for bringing an audience to its feet in full appreciation. Having previously rocked festivals such as Woodstock (Poland), Groezrock, Zwarte Cross, Pinkpop, Exit, Rock for People and SXSW the trio have honed their sound to perfection in the live arena, an impressive accolade in itself for a band at such a young age.

Edward Rogers is set to release his new album TV Generation, on 9th June following the release of his latest song Glass Marbles

Born in Birmingham, England where he spent the first 12 years of his life, Rogers moved to New York City just as the British Invasion began in the States. He started his career behind the drumkit, which he played in several garage bands. When a subway accident in October 1985 left him without his right arm and right leg below the knee, he turned to songwriting. As he developed his writing talents, Edward found he enjoyed singing and writing more rewarding than playing drums.

TV Generation is Edward’s seventh solo release and it explores several life changing moments in Edward’s recent life – including the passing of David Bowie and other heroes of his. Additionally, he was joined in the studio by several talented musicians that have been well established in their genre for decades, including the album’s producer Don Piper (Syd Straw), James Mastro (Ian Hunter), Sal Maida (Roxy Music, Cracker), Dennis Diken (Smithereens), Geoff Blythe (Dexys, Black 47), Jane Scarpantoni (Lou Reed) and more! Check out Glass Marbles below!

We managed to catch up with Rogers as he talked about the upcoming album, latest song and more!

So how pumped are you for the release of TV Generation?

I went into a really rigid writing and demoing routine producing 40 songs. And, then went to my producer and he and I selected the best songs for TV Generation. For the most part, they were recorded without the band having prior rehearsals, and I think the spontaneity is captured on this record. Now that it’s completed, I can’t wait to get out and play the songs live and hopefully get a good response. I’m totally psyched and want everyone to hear these songs.

How well has Glass Marbles gone so far?

Glass Marbles was a total satisfying musical adventure. I felt we took a lot of chances on that album and won over many new friends. Financially, if you can break even and make a little money, then what more can you ask for? Artistically, I got to write, record and release a double album of songs that I enjoyed writing, and my musical aspirations became a reality.

Tell us a little bit about the album?

TV Generation was written and recorded quickly. It was my observations of how we are so influenced by social media these days. News is instantly received, and so most of the songs reflect that theme. We all grew up as part of the TV Generation and seems like there was never a time without it. These songs are like snapshots of real time life situations I’ve observed.

If you could work with any band in the world on new music, who would it be and why?

Oh, my goodness, that’s a difficult question as I’m such a fan of many bands out there. Can I be bold and name a few? Here goes.

Scott Walker – would love him to record one or two of my songs in a more melodic mode than he is currently known for, so more like his earlier recordings. Why? Because he’s one of my all-time favorite singers!

I’d love the work with Tame Impala. They seem to be one of the bands that are leading the musical path. Why? They have elements of the old mixed with a cutting edge approach which makes them unique.

Of course there are so many other artists and bands I love: Colin Blunstone, Foxygen (new album), Roy Wood, Vinny Peculiar and Simon Love (check them out!) and the list goes on and changes hourly!

What’s the music scene like in New York City, is it different to the UK?

My entire musical career has been in New York, although I have performed in the UK in recent years.

The current music scene in England right now seems to be electronica-based. I don’t really see a rock band on the that’s going to influence music. That said, it could all change tomorrow (as it often does in the UK). In New York, there is diversity. For instance, downtown Manhattan is totally different from what you see/hear in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. So many styles from psych to rock to electronica seem to be welcome and are given the time to develop.

What was your first ever gig you attended?

Good question! I was just a kid in England and was taken to an outdoor afternoon concert on Winston Churchill’s estate. The line up consisted of PP Arnold & The Nice featuring Keith Emerson; Simon Dupree & The Big Sound (that’s one for you psych fans); the third performance of The Jeff Beck Group, featuring Rod Stewart and the headliner was Manfred Mann, who played all the pop hits of the time. Not bad for a Sunday summer afternoon.

Do you find it different being solo rather than a band?

Yes. You have so much more independence and the decisions are all yours without compromise. That said, I’ve been working with the same group of musicians for several years and Don Piper, my producer, and I work very closely together.

Will there be a tour at all this year?

Actually, I leave on May 8 for several dates in the UK and Ireland (all on my website), including dates in London, Liverpool and Dublin, among others. In addition, I just booked a record release show in Manhattan on Tuesday June 20 at The Cutting Room.

I’m currently looking at other options.

What’s it like when you see fans listen to your music?

Wow, another good question. When you get some positive response, it’s an amazing feeling that comes over you and you think ‘this was so worth it.’ Also, having had the opportunity to open for such artists as Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, Dave Davies of The Kinks, Ian Hunter and Terry Reid, it’s especially rewarding when their audiences respond positively to my set.

WSTR recently played a set at Teddy Rocks Festival last Friday (28th April) as the Liverpool based pop punk band totally blew the crowd away. With the festival being such a great cause, with all proceeds going to Teddy20, you could tell that the band were honoured to be there. We caught up with lead singer Sammy Clifford and the band as they talked about their latest album Red, Green Or Inbetween, the festival itself, what they get up to in their spare time and more!

No Sleep Records is proud to announce the latest addition to their ever-growing family – the Brighton-based grunge outfit Muskets.

Muskets found their birth in Brighton, UK where they quickly engaged in the city’s always-growing music scene. Here, they connected with like-minded peers who held a shared DIY ethos and influence of grunge, punk and emo sounds, such as Broadbay, The New Tusk and Water Canvas. With these names the band put touring and weekenders in throughout 2014, supported by their Pollyseed EP on cassette released through Wake and Don’t Shoot The Messenger.

The following year saw the band change up a gear, putting out a six-track affair titled SPIN and released via Venn Records. It was around this time that Muskets garnered the interest of Radio 1’s Daniel P Carter, giving them substantial airplay of singles ‘Tate Modern’, ‘Colourview’ and ‘Drowsy and inviting them to Maida Vale for a live session that elevated the band to heights they had not reached before. Exposure like this also saw the bands touring game level up in parallel and led to UK outings alongside the likes of the more established Moose Blood and Creeper. The last iteration of SPIN came with the music video for the EP’s cathartic closer ‘Drowsy’ featuring none other than Matt King AKA Super Hans. Check out their new single 17 Years below!

We managed to catch up with Muskets drummer as he talked about the latest release, No Sleep Records and more!

So how has the release of 17 years gone so far?

It’s gone real good so far man, real cool to see people from across the pond digging it!

Tell us a bit about the release..

Well, it’s the first thing we’ve released since our last EP ‘SPIN’ which was released in 2015 via Venn Records, so it’s been a long time since we released new music. I think the song’s real cool, bit of a shift from Spin’s sound, but not too far from our earlier records either – A nice progression.

Will there be a EP/album out this year?

There might be, we’ll see!

If you could work with any band, who would it be and why?

As in play with? If they were still around – Nirvana. For a band that’s still going – The Pixies.

What’s it liked being picked up by the likes of Radio One?

It’s real cool because in the UK it’s one of the biggest radio stations where loads of people tune into Dan’s show to hear new music. We actually did a live session for him at Maida Vale a couple years ago, and that was like a dream come true for me personally haha.

How thrilled are you to be part of the No Sleeps Records team?

We’re all really excited to be working the No Sleep family. They’ve been releasing loads of our favourite records for years, and I find it nuts that they’re putting our band out. That La Dispute record ‘Somewhere at the bottom of the river…’ was a huge record for me when I was younger!

Will there be a tour announced this year?

We’ll see..

What was your first gigs that you ever went to?

The earliest shows I can remember going to were; Kasabian, Blink 182 and Architects. I went to Reading Festival pretty much every year from 2011 onwards, as it always had the best lineups.

What do you get up to in your spare time while not in the band?

It sounds really lame, but I pretty much play drums every day as I’m kinda obsessed haha. Other than that started up my own little label early this year; Weather Girl Records, releasing cassette tapes for some of my friends.

Rainy Day Crush, a dynamic and scrappy indie pop trio, is excited to be sharing their debut single off of their upcoming EP I’m Still Alive.

Rainy Day Crush’s newest single, Heartbreak (And How To Get Over It), is the inspiring and catchy post break up song everyone has been waiting for. The band said that this song has become their latest battle cry. Heartbreak stands as an anthem to challenge adversity, reminding the trio that it’s up to Matt, Mike, and Derek to keep putting up a fight.

Rainy Day Crush’s upcoming EP, I’m Still Alive makes a promise to their fans that the band is poised and ready for a comeback. The EP captures the essence of Rainy Day Crush, fusing unbelievably catchy hooks with vibrant & honest lyrics to tell the band’s story of tenacity and determination. I’m Still Alive is out June 9th.

We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about their latest single and more!

So how has the release of your single Heartbreak (or How to Ger Over It) gone so far?

The release has gone very well so far! We’re getting a lot of positive feedback, which is incredibly exciting! It took a lot to get these songs out into the world, and we’re just happy that we’re finally getting to share them.

Tell us about the single.

The first single, “Heartbreak (or How to Get Over It),” was literally years in the making. I’ve had this riff hanging around for a long time. Last year, as sometimes happens, the lyrics just started pouring in. Mike, our drummer, was a big fan of the riff, and once I had some lyrics, the song just took off. Right before recording, there were some things that still just weren’t working. So the three of us sat down at my kitchen table the night before we were scheduled to record, and we just hammered out all those amazing lines Mike sings, and stitched the last bits together. Some of Mike’s vocal lines still give me chills every time I hear them! And I absolutely LOVE Derek’s bass line, especially with the main riff. It’s just so much fun, and is musically brilliant.

Lyrically, we all kind of rallied around this song. It has become our anthem, and our battle cry. That’s why we decided to release it first. We’re pretty proud of the fact that we’re still here, making music, playing gigs, and putting some positive vibes out into the world, and “Heartbreak” reflects success in the face of struggle.

How pumped are you for the release of your EP ‘I’m Still Alive’?

On a scale of one to ten with one being ambivalent and ten being we can’t sleep most nights because we’re so excited, I’d say we’re roughly at like an eight..ty one, eighty two, somewhere around there. The recording experience was so much fun, and we want to share that fun with everyone!

What is your favourite track from the release?

Probably “Bonfires.” Everything just fell into place with “Bonfires.” The accordion, the toy piano, the beach sounds, the mix… I could go on and on! You know how sometimes you meet someone, and you automatically just seem to speak the same language with each other, and it feels like you’ve always been friends, and you always will be friends? That’s what this song was like. It was like meeting someone you’ve always known.

It’s the slowest song on the EP, so it wasn’t our first choice to promote as a “single,” but in a lot of ways, this song helped us figure out a lot of things. It’s a pretty special song to us.

So it’s been five years since your reunion, how good does it feel to be getting out there again?

It feels freaking incredible! It feels like we cheated death. It makes us appreciate how amazing it is to be able to create music. We have this beautiful opportunity in front of us, and we passed on it once, but we won’t pass on it again.

If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?

I think all three of us have different answers for this one, and all of our answers would probably vary depending on the day and the song! For me, though, I think Dave Grohl would be towards the top of the list. He’s always collaborating, and it always seems to be about the big picture for him. I get the feeling that he’s the guy that cares more about the song and what he can add to it, as opposed to those guys who just want to show off. He just seems like a really creative guy, and I love being around people like that.

Also, I have a well-documented fever for Jimmy Eat World. I would absolutely love to play some piano with them.

What has been your funniest moment recording the EP?

Without a doubt, the funniest moment was the “Great Shuffle Debacle of 2017.” Mike was absolutely convinced that one part of one song needed the drums to “shuffle.” I was absolutely convinced that a shuffle would ruin that part of the song, and didn’t fit the overall song. After a lot of good-natured debate and trying the song both ways, we all decided as a group that we’d leave the shuffle for another song.

We get to the studio, and I was tracking some vocals. Our engineer (Steven Servi from Eisley Creative, who was AMAZING to work with), asked me about a part we were working on, and Mike made a crack about it needing some shuffle. Which is incredibly funny, right? We had to pause for a couple minutes to regain our composure. As we were gaining control, I said, “F**k your shuffle!” So from then on, whenever we were brainstorming, Mike would suggest a shuffle, and I would laugh and say, “F**k that shuffle.”

When we got our first rough mix back, we’re listening to it, and right in the middle, Steven had remixed the song to include a shuffle. None of us could believe it! And then, to top things off, he had (unbeknownst to me) recorded me saying, “F**k your shuffle,” and added it on repeat three octaves up to the end of the song. So when the song gets intense and the chorus repeats, all of a sudden we could hear this chipmunk voice over the mix saying “F**k your shuffle! F**k your shuffle! F**K your shuffle!” over and over and over again!

To this day, we can’t listen to the song without half expecting to hear electronically altered profanities.

How much does it mean to you when you hear fans listen to your music?

It means the entire world. It is everything. It’s why we do this.

Our last show, a woman came up to us, and told us how much our songs have meant to her and helped her get through some things. One of my favorite memories in life (not just in the band) is the first time an audience sang our lyrics back to us. You can’t purchase those kinds of responses. All the studio editing and slick press photos and expensive promotions in the world can’t force a song to mean something to someone. When a song means something to you, it is like a direct and personal interaction. It can’t be faked or bought, and that’s what we’re after.

Will there be a tour to coincide the release of the EP?

There won’t be a tour in the traditional sense of us climbing in a van and playing a string of dates in a string of cities, but we are definitely looking to book as many gigs as we can in all the places and with all the bands that will have us. Our EP Release Party is in Racine, WI, on June 9th.